orchestrated his abuse and death. prosecutors also indicted her husband, sister-in-law and sons. investigators say victims were held in her condo against their will, deprived of food and water and physically abused before they died. in most cases they say relatives of the victims were the ones who carried out the abuse. police have found five bodies. they believe four other people who are listed as missing are connected to this case and likely dead. >>> investigators say sumida's crimes could date back a decade. during that time citizens and police had warning signs but they didn't act. lax law enforcement is partly to blame but so is japanese tendency to respect privacy. earlier i spoke with nhk world's yoichiro tateiwa who is covering this story. yoichiro, how didn't this case come to light? >> it first came up a year ago when a woman fled to a police station and said she had been kidnapped and held against her will. since then the police have found dead bodies in different parts of western japan. investigators say sumida was the mastermind behind the deaths. here is how they say it worked.

to the law. the largest opposition leader aung san suu kyi went to the site on thursday night. she called on both sides to seek settlement. >> translator: i want to solve this problem peacefully and in a dignified manner. i want to request that all of you help me on this. >> reporter: the copper mine is being jointly developed by chinese company and the firm linked to the military. the decision to force an end to the demonstration was likely made out of consideration for china. infrastructure projects including the new airport have benefitted from chinese money. the two countries built cross ties for myanmar and constrained by western sanctions. investments from china totalled $1.4 billion over the past two decades. but myanmar has been reducing its dependence on china, shifting its focus towards the united states and europe. democratic and economic reforms have encouraged the west to end sanctions. china and the united states are competing for influence in southeast asia. myanmar's per capita gdp is aamong the lowest in asean. the country may be exploring ways to develop its economy quic

pesticides that exceed the law. they pulled about 900 tons off the province. authorities and officials say the pesticide levels do not pose a health risk even for people who consume the tea daily. >>> archaeologists say they've made an important finding that could alter the history of japan's system of riding. they say they found earthen ware that suggests that hiragana characters could date back farther than currently believed. last year's archaeologists in the ancient capital of kyoto excavated 20 plates and other pottery items from the ruins of the home of an aristocrat. they say it dates back to the late 9th century. hirogana has believed to have become an established form of writing in the 10th century. >> translator: a large amount of earthen ware was discovered in the home of a noble family. this means the aristocrats of the time already had a good command of hiragana. >> they say it ho provides precious clues to how it involved in japan. >>> visitors to kyoto at this time of year enjoy its gardens and temples against a backdrop of colorful autumn leaves. nhk world's rina nakano vis

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